Illuminated kaleidoscope.



No. 754,143: PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904 T. R. JOHNSON. LLUMINATBDKALEIDUSGOPE.

MJPLIUATION PILEDSEPT. 17, 190s. i ,No MoDI'zL, 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 JAW,

Ain .am man' WITNESSES INVENTOR 78M PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904,

T N. JOHNSON. ILLUMINATED KNLNDosGoPN.

APPLCATION FILED SEPT,17. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 NO MODEL.

v INVENTOR MMM WITNESSES Namens.

Patented March 8, 1904.

UNITEDA STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS n. Jonsson, or JEANNETTE, PENNSYLVANIA..

ILLnmiNArso KALEiDosooPs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '754,43, dated March 8,3.904.

I vApplication led September 17, 1903, Serial No. 173,5ll, (No model.)

o MZ whom it wtrtg concern:

vBe it known that i, THoMAs R. Jonsson, a citizen of the United States,residing atdeannette, in the county of Vestmoreland and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inilluminated Kaleidoscopes, of which the following is a speciiication,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an illuminated kaleidoscope; and one-object isto provide a instrument wherein constantly-changing iigures may beproduced in a great 'variety oi sizes and shapes or outlines at thepleasure oi? the observer.

A further object is to provide for exposing any figure as long as may bedesired; also, for

' exposing in rotations series of views which may be repeated as oftenes the hperator may wish.

Still a further object is to provide novel means for illuminating the"figures, whereby strikingly beautiful effects are produced notheretofore obtainable.

The invention embodies an improved mounting for the mirrors and meansfor moving the same with relation to the objectholder; an

improved case, together with novel means for admitting light thereto;objects oi novel formation and an improved object-holder, and means formoving the object-holder laterally with relation to the mirrors.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of akaleidoscope embodying my improvements; and Fig. 2 is a top plan View ofthe same, the observation-tube being shown in section on line 2 2 ofFig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical Section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is asectional plan View on line 4 i of Fig. 2, the object-holder being shownin dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a vertical section oi' the observationtube online 5 5 of Fig. 6, and Fig. 6 is a crosssection on line 6 6 of Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a view of the mirrorholding tube. Figs. 8 and 9 are detailviews of the mirrors. Fig. 10 is an lenlarged View of the object-holder,and Fig.

11 is a detail view of several of the movable objects.

Referring to the drawings, the kaleidoscopecase is of box forni, withits rear part higher the louer end only.

than front portion 3. vSecured in the top of portion 3 is the verticaltubular support d. in which is rotatably mounted the observationtube 5,open at the lower end and the top provided with cap f5, Aornied with thecentral siglit-aoerturc 6. Annuler shoulder on tube 5 serves torotatably support the latter on the upper end of tube d.

'llightly fitting within tube 5 is the threesided tube 7, having on twosidesthereof the mirrors 8, which are thus disposed at an angle to eachother, as is usual in this class of devices. The surface ZF of tube 7,exposed between the mirrors, is preferably-dark in color or bl vcli, asl', obtain the best results by ei:-v cludinff all light-colored surfacesfrom the mirrer-tune and by admitting' the lightrays at rChc two' piecesof glass comprisin the mirrors are preferably mounted ou a piece cibloeit faliiric 8', which affords the necessary backing and holds thesame together in hinge fashion. Tube 7 and mirrors 8 are taperedslightly, so that the latter while readily removable are securely heldagainst accidental displacement.

Object-holder rotatably and slidably mounted within the oase, beingprovided with central pivot 1G, which depends through slot vll in raisedportion 2' of case-bottom 2, said raised portion forming a cavity forthe lower extremity of the pivot, which is thus conveniently accessiblefor sliding the object-holder either ltoward or from the mirrors. In oneside of the case is opening 12, through which the operator may inserthis finger for rotating the holder. The object-holder is preferablycircular and dish-shaped and is formed with annular internal shoulder13, which supports glass cover 14 for. confining the movable objects l5.At the topedge of the holder is rim 16, which is cut or indented to formprojections i6` of various irregular shapes, which may be illuminated ordecorated, as by painting, covering with paper or tin-foil ofdienl titlby painting or by pasting bits of paper creen, so that it combines withthe inevle bjectf in always providing a field for" ,1 n of vier orfigures, so that even ijects are hunched and turned out the mirrors thepermanentlydniitting light i prefer to arrange a l p l of g ass i7 inthe front or top of the ez which is immediately above the objectho d rand disposed at such-.an angle as to distrong light iininediotel y belowthe mirrors. Cathedral or other opaque or partially opaque glass ispreferred, asA it transmits ani e iight without disclosing' the interioraroei'nent of the instrninent,thereby preservi'e myst surrounding thesedevices enned bythose not familiar with their conon. i operation withthe object-holder in rear osition, as in full lines in Fig, it oc- 'heentire iield of vision, and the suce views are created entirely by thecons thereofT which may be the movable ligthe decorated bottom, or both,and by rou theobject-holder a constant change is ected. When holding theinstrument level, or substantially so, the objects remain quiescent,creating a cycle of views which maybe repeatedas J:ten as the observermay Wish.-

0i By holding the instrument at an incline while turning the holder theobjects are caused to tumble and produce views in endless profusion. Bysiiding the object-holder away from the inirroi s or in'direetionindicated by dotted iines in Fig. 2 the rim 16 is brought into the iineof vision, and the brightly-'colored irregular projections thereofprovide the views Ortigures with illuminated jewel-like edges or bordersoi" endless variety and great beauty. With a portion only of the fieldoccupied by the objectholder, as is the case when the latter is movedoutward, floor 2 of the case comes into viei'v, and it is characteristicof the invention to blaclren the same, particularly the bottom ofportion 3,as indicatedat 18, thus giving a black velvetlike backgroundto all suchA views, which greatly augmente their rich effect." Thisblack background also tends to obliterate the lines radiating from theapicillary line, and the saine true oi' the decorated bottom' of theobjectrsupportpicor Whether the background be wholly or only partiallyobscured a vie W is al'- ways presented with said lines far lessconspic;K nous than otherwise. `With the laterally-movableobject-holderthe objects may be caused to Cover the entire field of vision and formviews@ of maximum Size', or the objectholder may he so adjusted as toplace in View only a veryV small portion of rim 16, Which when the ob,-ject-holder is in motion produces exquisite jewel-like. figures therichness and beauty of holder produces .f'iews of inedi 1n sito, ehaving the illuminated edge anorded by i6, as before explained, and eachhaving the surrounding black background, which causes the figures tostand out in bold relief. 'ro-- tatin tube 5 in tubular support theapicilu lary line of the mirrors is caused to si i circular patlnand the3Jiposed object de ed in a cycle ot' views or iigures. rl'lhe thusproduced are particularly stri le.; portion of the black background e;

as some tig'ures then show solid si black, while a diercnt adjust. lrors .torrnsthe saine held intr close a black center. f 'the mirrorsover the squares have b (in addition u the above*- the mirrors and clicthe saine tiene, ject'i the opereL it is c motion.l be z peated often asserver ample time to co' sign that vhe may desire to /the instrumentniay be ci c signers and others in quest and at 'the saine time is a sonentertainment.

I claim as' my inventionl. in a kaleidoscope, mirrors, a ce@ iject-holder slidable in the case tra-usi. line of vision and open at thetop for mission of light, and ineansl for slidable holder.

2. in alialeidoscope, revoiuble mirrors., and arevoluble object-beider.

3.4 In akaleidoscope, reyoluhle mirrors, and a revoluble object-holderslidabie transverse the line of vision.

4;. In akaleidoscope, a holder, and two niirrors arranged atan angletherein with black or darkcolored surface exposed between the mirrors.

5. In a kaleidoscope, three-sided tube having one side black or dark coi"ed, and niirrors itting the other two sides ihereoi.

6. A movable object-support for lia-leido Scopes having an edge ofirregular shape.

7. A movable object-support for laieilo-- scopes having a decorated edgeof shape.

8. A circular and rotatabie object-support `for lraleidoscopes having adecorated Vedge et' irregular shape. y

9. A dish-shaped object-holder for kaleidoscopes having a decoratedobject-supporting which are fully brought out by the black background.An intermediate adjustment of the surface and a decorated edge of irregular forni.

1,0. ln, a kaleidoscope, a case formed with a IOC IIO

side opening for the purpose described, mirrors; and an objeet-ho1der.

l1. In a kaleidosoopea case having a black or dark-colored surfacebeneath the mirrors, an object-'Support, and mirrors.

12. In a kaleidoscope, a ease having a black or darkcoloredbottom-surface, mirrors, and an object-holder movable between saiddarkcolored surface-and the mirrors.

1?. In a kaleidoscope, a oase having a black or dark-coloredbottom-surface, mirrors, and

4 an objeet-support movable between said surface and the mirrors andprovided with a decorated edge of irregular shape.

14. i In a kaleidoseope,a ease, an observation- 'tube projeeting fromthe upper portion of the ease, a light-admitting panel in the upper por;tion of the case, and an object-holder within the oase and below thetube and panel.

15. In akaleidoseope,a case,an observationtubei an object-holder withinthe oase, and a light-admitting panel in the upper portion of the casearranged at an angle to the objectsupport.

16. In a kaleidoscope, a case having a raised rear portion,v a glasspane-l in the top of the oase at the juncture of the front and rearportions, an observation-tube depending through said rear portion, andan object-holder within thecase.-

l 17. In a kaleidoscope, a case having its rear portion closed andprovided with a black bottom, an observationtube and a glass panel inthe upper portion of the'ease, and* an objectsupport within the case andmovable over the black bottom-surface thereof.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

i THOMAS R. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

HENRY SMITH, FRED. R. JOHNSON.

